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Age: 42Enrolled in: MedicaidFinal premium: FreeBefore the ACA, Joanne thought she would have to break the bank to afford her son’s life-saving medical care.Now, Joanne can get care for her son and the rest of her family, with money to spare for other essentials.

Last year, Joanne was distraught: her son had been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor that requires frequent care. To make matters worse, she had just lost her job. She had no idea how she would be able to afford the $1,200 COBRA payments and the rest of her living expenses. Going without care was not an option. She met with a Navigator at the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island and, to her surprise, her whole family was eligible for Medicaid. “Lucky for me, I met with Kelly [the Navigator] and now no longer have to worry about how to pay for health insurance coverage. I can use the money that I was going to scrape together for the health insurance to meet other living expenses.” What’s more, her son’s life-saving medical services are now covered.

“The tears started when I realized I would not have to figure out how to pay to keep my family insured, because I was eligible for free insurance.”